Automatic switch.



C. J. HENDRICKSON.

Patented Nov 12, 1918.

Char/(s J:

' Arry.

ii rious groups of terminals COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW 'YORAUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed December 29. 1916. Serial No. 189,534.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. (humus J. T'TENDRICK- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, rcsiding at New York, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auto lnaticSwitches, of which the following is a full. clear, concise, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to switches for use in automatic telephonesystems, and more particularly to switches in which the power forimparting motion to the brushes is supplied by the action of a plungerand a solenoid.

This application is a continuation in part of applicants copenrlingapplication, Serial No. 105,355. filed June 23 1916.

It is the object. of the present invention to provide an automaticswitch which shall be simple in structure and rapid and accurate inoperation.

A feature of the invention is an arrangement by which a. solenoidoperated switch may be advanced in response to the operation of animpulse sending device.

A further feature of the invention is the use of solenoids to operate atwo-motion switch which may be either of the up-and around or thearound-and-up type.

It is thought that, the invention will best be understood from thefollowing detailed description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings. Figure l is a side elevation of a selector switch ofthe around-and up type; Fig. 2 is a View of the lower part of the same,looking from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fi 3 is a top plan view of aportion of the switch shown in Fig. 1. looking down from the line 33 ofFig. 1: and Fit. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the switch shownin Fig. l. looking down from the line 44 of Fig. 1.

The structure of the switch disclosed in the accompanying drawings willfirst be described. and will he followed by a dcscription of theoperation of such partsof the dcvice as are necessary to anunderstanding of the invention.

A brush-earrving shaft. 5 is rotatably and slidablv mounted in anydesired manner. A plurality of spirally disposed brushes 6 are securedto shaft 5 and are arranged to be brought into operative relation withthe va- 7 upon rotation of shaft 5. The arrangement of brushes 6 withrespect to the terminal banks 7 is substantiall the same as thatdisclosed in a patent to O. F. Forsberg, No. 12523-20, issued Januarv 8.1918.

To the lower portion of shaft 1 is secured. a cylinder 8 having a seriesof notches 9 cut in its surface. Immediately below the cylinder 8 is amagnetic plunger 10 arranged to be attracted by a solenoid 11, thecylinder 8 and plunger 10 being arranged to pass through 'a cylindricalopening in the center of the solenoid. The solenoid 11 is arran ed togive vertical movement to shaft 5, t is vertical motion being controlledby means of a frame 12. The frame 12 is pivoted on pins 13 mounted onsolenoid 11 and carries at one end an armature 14. and at the other enda pawl 15. the relation of the armature and pawl being best seen in Fig.4.

A pinion 16 is secured to shaft 5 at some pointbelow the plunger 10 andis in engagement with a strip of toothed rack 17. The toothed rack 17 ismounted on a member 18. which is provided with a series of ratchet teeth19. Also mounted on the member 18 is a cylinder of non-magnetic materialhaving notches 20 cut in its surface. Fixed to one end of the not hedcylinder is a plunger 21 of magnetic material. A solenoid 22 is providedwith a central opening through which the cvlinder and plunger may pass.Upon energization of solenoid 2:? the Dinnger 21 will be attracted tomove rack 17 and cause the rotation of shaft 5 through the action ofpinion .16. this motion being controlled by means of a frame 23. Theframe. :3 is pivotally and slidably mounted on pins 24 secured to thesolenoid 92.'and carries at. one end a pawl 25 of non-magnetic material.and at the other end an armature 26, the relafirm of pawl 25 andarmature 26 being best seen in Fig. .2. Springs 36 and 37 return frame23 to its normal position when the solenoid 522 is not: energized.

The rack 17 is maintained in its operated position against the tensionof a restorin spring (not shown) by the action of a holdinn pawl 28pressed into engagement with teeth 19 by the action of spring), 29.

The pawl 15 holds the shaft 5 in its elevated position by engaging oneof the slots 9.

The relea e of the switch is accomplished by means of a release magnet30. Magnet 30, by attracting its armature 31, causes an extension 32 tooperate pawl 28 by means of a pin 33 to disengage such pawl from one ofthe notches 19. Armature 31, in moving to the r ght, slides up a camsurface 34, as best seen in Fig. 4, and causes the frame 12 to rotateabout its pivots 13 and withdraw pawl 15 from engagement with one of thenotches 9, which allows U'rush shaft 5 to be restored to its normalvertical position by gravity.

Assuming that the device is to be used as a selector switch, itsoperation will be follows: No circuit arrangement has been disclosed,but a suitable circuit arrangement would be of sufficient siinilarit tothat disclosed in a patent to C. L. oodrum, No. 1,251,503, issuedJanuary 1, 1918, as to be unnecessary of detailed description, the chiefdistinction being that in the present case solenoids would besubstituted for step ping magnets, and no means would be necessary forinterrupting the circuit of the secondary solenoid.

Upon the receipt of a series of directive impulses, solenoid 22 isintermittently en ergized and det nergized to attract the plungcr 21 androtate shaft 5 a desired number of steps to bring a brush 6 intooperative relation with a group of terminals 7, in which terminatetrunks leading to switches of a desired designation.

Upon the first energization of solenoid 22 and before the plunger 21 canmove, due to the inertia of the mechanism operated thereby, armature 26will be attracted, causing the frame 23 to rotate about its pivots,therethrowing pawl 25 into engagement" with the first slot 20. Theplunger 21 is then advanced and moves frame 23 to the right with it,since pawl 25 is engaging a slot 20. The forward motion of rack 17 islimited to one step since the engagement of armature 26 witlf-thebody ofthe solenoid limits the extent of motion.

Upon the first deinergization of solenoid .22 armature 26 is retractedby spring 37,

' therejlydisn aging pawl 25 from the first slot 20 and al owing theframe 23 to be re turned to its normal position by spring 36. The pawl25 now lies in the plane of the second slot 20. The rack 17 will be heldin its advanced position, since pawl 28 now ongages the second ratchettooth 19. In this way the brush shaft 5 may .be rotated a de sirednumber of steps by the action of solenoid 22 in response to the seriesof directive im ulses.

pon completion of the sending of directive im ulses, current will be suplied to solenoi 11 to elevate the brush sha t 5 and cause a positionedbrush to hunt over a se lected group in search of an idle trunk. Uponenergization of solenoid 11 armature 14 is attracted, causing therotation offrame 12, which results in the disengagement of pawl 15 fromthe first slot 9. The solenoid 11 is maintained energized until an idletrunk is found, at which time its circuit. will be broken. Upondeenergization of magnet 11, armature 14 is retracted by the movement offrame 12 in response to the action of a spring 35, and awl 15 willengage a slot f to hold the sha t in its elevated position.

When connection is no longer desired, magnet 30 is lease of the switch,as previously dcscrilnd.

If the invention is to be applied to a selector switch of theup-and-around type, it would only be necessary to provide a solenoidcontrolled in the same manner as that described for solenoid 22 toproduce vertical motion of the shaft, after which the shaft would berotated by means of a rack and pinion through the action of a solenoidequipped with a Controlling device similar to that described forsolenoid 11.

If the switch is to be used as a connector, that is, if motion in bothdirections is to be made responsive to impulse control, then both of theoperating solenoids would have to be equipped with controlling mechanismsimilar to that described for solenoid 22.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic switch, a brush carrying shaft, a solenoid and aplunger therefor arranged to impart motion to said shaft,

- and an armature mounted independently of said plunger and operated bythe magnetic field of the solenoid to render the motion of said shaft ofa step-by-step character.

2. In an automatic switch, a brush-carry ing shaft, means, including aplunger and an operating solenoid therefor, for impart. ing motion tothe shaft, and means including a member pivotally and slidably mountedin operative relation to said solenoid to ren der the motion of theshaft responsive to impulse control.

3. In an automatic switch, a brush-carrw ing shaft, a solenoid, aplunger for said solenoid operatively connected to said shaft, a seriesof stops, an armature in operative relation to said solenoid, a pawlcarried by said armature and arranged to engage one of said stbpsuponenergization of said solenoid to limit the extent of movement of saidswitch.

4. In an automatic switch, a brush carry ing shaft, a solenoid, aplunger rod for said solenoid operatively connected to said shaft, aseries of slots in said plunger rod, an arm arranged to enga e one ofsaid slots and be moved therewit upon each en ergization of saidsolenoid, a stop to limit the extent of movement of said arm, and meansto return said arm to its normal position upon each denergization ofsaid solenoid.

5. In an automatic switch, a brush carry ing shaft, a solenoid, aplunger rod for said energized and causes the rcsolenoid operativelyconnected to said shaft, :1 series of slots in said plunger rod, an armarran ed to engage one of said slots and he move therewith upon eachenergization of said solenoid, a stop to limit the extent of movement ofsaid arm, means to return said arm to its normal position upon eachdeenergization of said solenoid, and ratchet and pawl mechanism tomaintain said brush shaft in an advanced position. 1

6. In an automatic switch a brush-carryiog shaft, means, including aplunger rod and an operating solenoid therefor, for imparting motion tothe shaft, 3, series of notches on said rod, a pawl arranged to en gagesaid notches, a series of slots in said rod, an arm to engage saidslots, and a frame pivotally and slidably mounted on said solenoid, saidarm being carried by said frame, said elements constituting means torender the motion of the shaft responsive to impulse control.

7. In an automatic switch, a brush-carrying shaft arranged to be movedin a plu rality of directions, and a plurality of solenoids and plungerstherefor arranged to cause such motions of said shaft.

it. In an automatic switch, a brush-carry ing shaft arranged to be movedin a plurality of directions, operating solenoids and plungers therefor,and means to render motion of said brush shaft subject to impulsecontrol.

9. In an automatic switch, a brush-carrying shaft mounted so as to becapable of both rotary and vertical motions, a plunger on said shaft andan operating solenoid therefor, a pinion on said shaft, a rack engagingsaid pinion and carrying a plunger, and a solenoid for operating saidplunger.

10. In an automatic switch, a brush-car- 1 'ing shaft mounted so as tobe capable of both rotary and vertical motions, a plunger on said shaft,an o crating solenoid therefor, a pinion on sai shaft, a rack engagingsaid pinion and carrying a plunger, a solenoid for operating saidplunger, and means to render motion in one direction subject to im ulsecontrol.

1. In an automatic switch, a brush car rying shaft, a solenoid, aplunger for said solenoid arranged to impart motion'to the brush shaft,and an armature for said solenoid, said plunger and armature cooperatinwith each other to render the motion of said shaft responsive to impulsecontrol.

12. In an automatic switch, a brush carrying shaft, a solenoid, aplunger therefor arranged to impart motion to the brush shaft, and anarmature for said solenoid, said plunger and armature beingsimultaneously responsive to the energization of said solenoid to renderthe motion of the brush shaft subject to impulse control.

13. In an automatic switch, a brush can rying shaft, a solenoid, aplunger therefor for moving said brush shaft, and an armature for saidsolenoid mounted for movement in two directions, said armature beingmovable in one direction in response to the.energization of the solenoidand movable in the other direction in response to the movement of saidplunger to thereby limit the extent of motion of said brush shaft.

14. In an automatic switch, a brush carrying shaft, a solenoid, aplunger rod therefor for moving said shaft, a series of stops on saidplunger rod, and an armature for said solenoid mounted in operativerelation thereto and having a pawl thereon arranged to cooperate withsaid stops, said plunger be.- ing responsive to the encrgization of thesolenoid to advance the brush shaft, said armature being movable inresponse to the energization of the solenoid to engage said pawl withone of said stops, said armature being further movable in response tomovement of the plunger red to limit the extent of motion of the brushshaft for each energization of the solenoid.

15. In an automatic switch, a brush shaft, a solenoid, a plungertherefor operatively connected to said shaft, and an armature for saidsolenoid, said plunger and armature being responsive to successiveenergizations of said solenoid and arranged to cooperate with each otherto impart successive movements of equal extent to said brush shaft.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 28th day ofDecember A. D.,

CHARLES J. HENDRICKSON.

